Charmaine Olivia – In Full Bloom

If you blink for too long she might just evaporate. A mirage, a fleeting aura, an explosion of lovely. She’s movement, sensuality and femme divine. Charmaine Olivia’s girls bristle with energy and life. Muses for musos, their sex is on fire but perhaps their female audience is the one that’s truly head over heels.

Self taught, Charmaine’s evolution as an artist has been well documented through her social media savvy. Generous and open about her techniques and process, her passion is palpable. One can imagine that artist cliche of a slow reveal as her subjects render themselves into life. Each one unique, they go well beyond being a two dimensional female portrait destined for the male gaze. There’s no Vargas girls here. With a Klimt like saturation and symbolism, colour becomes an idiosyncratic lens. Individually named, they each have nuances of their own power, strength, playfulness and sensuality. From the outside it looks as if for Charmaine, each painting is a process of falling in love.

Her muses expose empowered feminine archetypes that inspire rather than intimidate. One can only hope that in the right light, a glimpse of our own inner rainbow warrior shimmers, waiting to be seen.

Charmaine Olivia’s next exhibition “Bloom”, will be showing at Shooting Gallery (SF) in June